Holder and dispenser for collapsible tubes



Feb. 20,1951 c. R. KEEFER HOLDER AND DISPENSER FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBES Filed Dec. 15, 1947 IN V EN TOR. cHA RL Es R. KEEFE'R A TTORNE Y Patented Feb. 20, 1951 HOLDER AND DISPENSER FOE GOLLAPSIBLE TUBES Charles R. Keefer, Baltimore, Md.

Application December: 15, 1 947; Serial-No. 791,675 I 1 Claim.

This invention refers to dispensing equipment and more particularly to a device for removing dentifrice or other materials of a similar nature, from a collapsible tube mechanically.

Ina particular form of device, a holder is provided for holding a collapsible tube on. the wall, with a slotted shaft engaging its closed-in end. The turning of the shaft by means of a wing key winds up the tube so that its fluid contents are squeezed through the neck and orifice end of the tube, ready to be caught on a toothbrush or other article for use by the operator. The disadvantage of this form is that the tube is suspended in an unprotectedmanner from the holder and does not present an attractive appearance during its use. Further little or no control is provided over the material dispensed so that an excess over that required at a time, is left on the holder to interfere with its next operation or soil the parts. Further it requires the whole attention of the user and both of his handsduring its operation. The object of the present invention is to provide a new and improvedcollapsible tube holder that will avoid oneor more of the disadvantages and limitations of the prior art.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved collapsible tube holder that will dispense the materials from the tube in a convenient and effective manner.

A further object of. theherein described inven. tion is to provide a new and improved collapsible tube holder that will protect the tube,ipresent an. attractive appearance and avoid an excessive discharge of the contents from the tube.

An additional object: of this invention is to provide a new and improved collapsible tube holder that will enable its contents to bemechanically dispensed when the user presses a toothbrush or other article in it to receive the contents, and to cut-off the discharge of its contents and close the end of said tube when the toothbrush or other article is Withdrawn.

Other objects will become apparent as the; invention is more fully set forth.

For a clearer understanding of the invention and the objects thereof reference is madetoappended drawings. These drawings, with the. following description, detail a particular form. of the. invention. This particular form is provided as an example, to illustrate the principles involved and not as a limitation on the construction while the claim indicates the scope of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a front view of a collapsible tube holder embodying this invention;

Figure 2 is a side view of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a blown up view showing the carrier with a. tube inserted therein, ready to. be positioned-.intheoutsideshelli;

Figure 4 is a sectional. plan view on line; 4:-4 of Figure 1;.

Figure 5 is an enlarged View taken on line. 5-4: of Figure 1,.and

Figure 6" is an enlarged view taken. along line fiI-5i of Figurei5.

Similar reference numerals refer to similar partsthroughoutthe.various drawings.

The. collapsible; tube holder for dispensing: den" tifrice,,indicated in thedrawings, consistsof: four main parts, which. are the outside shell III, the inside carrier H, a. closure mechanism. 5E3,v and the winged key l2 for winding andsqueezing the: contents out of the tube l3.

The main shell [0 is preferably of rectangular contour with a lateral longitudinal slot. M in either side. wall-l5 and hasa cap. 5h The back wall. [6'- has a hole I! for a holding screw It to pass through. when the holder is. attached to a wall surface. A converging opening 52 of. relatively large area is extended from the top edge of the back It down towardsv the middle. The top of the shell is open but may be closed. over by the cap 5|. A bottom plate 53 is provided. for the shell I ll with a central orifice IS in it. Below this plate 53- is mounted the threadgripping and closure mechanism 50 with a channel guide. 25] along which a closing lid 2! reciprocates. At right angles to the inner edge of the lid 2:! is a pushshield 22 withan under piece 23 bent from it to support a tooth brush 2 iheld horizontally thereon. The'bristles of the'brush 2d are intended: for upward presentation. From mechanism plate 54 separate tongues 2 8: arepivotally attached to themechanism 56 which extends down.- wardly at its rear to provide a support 25- on which a coil spring 25, is'mounted. This spring- 26 normally presses resiliently against the push shield 22 and forces the lid forwards. so its hole 21 will be outof line with an orifice in the open tube 1-3. This places the lid 2| so it will close: the tube orifice and prevent the dentifrice mate-- rial from exuding from the tube l3 and passing The orifice i9 is through to. the; brush. bristles. arranged to receive the neck 30 of the tube m which. is held therein. by the scissors clamp 31 mounted on the plate. The inside carrier H for the tube is of three walled form and adapted.

to. fit and slide inside the area encompassed by the walls l5, l6 and front 32 of the shell i0. It

3 tically positioned slots 4| are provided in the walls 34 above the rollers 35 and 33 and guide and hold the winged key I 2 transversely across the carrier II. The key 12 is bifurcated to provide a long leg 42 and short leg 43 which are placeable in the slots 14 and 4| within the space of the carrier so that the flattened and closed portion 44 of the collapsible tube [3 can be inserted and held therein. The winding of the winged key 12 causes the tube 13 to wind about it and compresses the 1 contents from the tube 13 so they will flow through the orifice in the neck 30. As the tube is wound helically about the key I2 it shortens, and allows the carrier H to move down the interior of the shell 10, together with the key l2 as the latter proceeds down in the slots I4.

The tube [3 is originally placed in the carrier ll removed from the shell l0, so its end portion will be resiliently held between the rollers. Then this combination is replaced in the shell l and the key 12 inserted through the slots l4 and 4| to engage and straddle over the end 44. The device is now ready for use. The closure mechanism 50 may be made up as a unit and attached to the shell during the assembly by means of several screws, not shown, or other arrangements conventionally employed in assembly practice.

In using the holder, the operator takes the tooth brush in one hand with the bristles up, and forces its end against the push plate 22. This causes the lid 2! to move backwards and align its opening 21 with the orifice in the neck 30 of the tube l3 exposed so the contents can fiow down onto the brush underneath. At the same time, the operator twists the winged key 12 so the tube will be compressed at its end to force some of the contents through the neck. When this is accomplished the operator removes his hand from the wing 12 and withdraws his other hand holding the brush so that the spring 26 will act on the lid 2| and return it to closed position. In this position the fiow ofcontents from the tube 13 is cut off. The spring 39 keeps the rollers close enough to press against the tube ash; is drawn up by the twisting of the winged key 12, to collapse the tube at that line and force the materials from the tube through the orifice in the neck 30.

The shell 13 in this device for-ms a substantial structure for the support of the other elements, and at the same time cover up the tube and the commercial markings thereon. It enables the device to be erected on the wall of the room and form an attractive ornament. It supports the carrier H and enables it to travel in the shell out of sight, so the collapsed tube l3 will not be observed as it shortens and is distorted by the squeezing. The closure mechanism while accessible does not mar the appearance of the device and provides a simple but efiective arrangement for the closure of the contents from the tube. The scissors clamp is a quick and effective means for holding the neck of the tube in the shell. It operates quickly either for taking hold of the neck or releasing it. The clamping ends 45 of the scissor clamp 3! are formed on the inside to lock on the threads of the neck and hold the latter from lateral or up and down movement. The carrier H is removable from inside the shell for cleaning, inspection, attachment or removal of the tube and for any other suitable purpose. This makes its construction particularly desirable and permits it to be kept in sanitary condition as well as in repair. One of the particular features of the device is its convenience. The user is able to place his toothbrush into the closure mechanism, pushes it backwards, turns the winged key slightly, and he has a supply of dentifrice on the bristles of his brush. He then pulls the brush towards him and allows the orifice in the tube to be automatically closed off. This is the work of an instant and considerably more convenient than the usual method of searching for the tube, twisting ofif the cap, squeezing the material out in uncertain quantities and frequently over the floor or withdrawing excessive amounts, and then laying down the brush while replacing the cap with both hands, together with other dimculties that arise to mar the process. While these features are pointed out in connection with the use of dentifrice, it should be appreciated that similar ones arise in the use-of other materials, where collapsible tubes are employed. The field of the invention is therefore not necessarily restricted to the use of dentifrice but may be employed for a broad field of uses within the scope of the claim.

While but one general form or" the invention is shown in the drawings and described in the specifications, it is not desired to limit this application for patent to this particular form, as it is appreciated that other forms of construction could be made that would use the same principles and come within the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

A holder for a collapsible tube comprising in combination, a shell, a carrier element slidable within said shell, said shell and carrier having cooperative longitudinal slots, a key received in said slots, said key having a forked end adapted to grip the closed end of the collapsible tube, a pair of parallel rollers adapted to press against the closed end of the tube, means for mounting one of said rollers upon a fixed axis in said carrier element, adjustable means for mounting the other roller comprising a U-shaped spring having one end secured to said carrier element and its opposite end normally pressing against said last named roller, said carrier element having slots to receive the axle of said roller, and, a closing mechanism at the dispensing end of said shell.

CHARLES R. KEEPER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 543,934 Hollis Aug. 6, 1895 1,122,096 Fitchett Dec. 22, 1914 1,156,106 Smart Oct. 12, 1915 1,053,176 Waring July 29, 1924 1,566,193 Foster et al Dec. 15, 1925 1,777,906 Winsor Oct. 7, 1930 1,784,752 Ries Dec. 9, 1930 1,839,542 Ferguson Jan. 5, 1932 1,842,000 Windsor Jan. 19, 1932 1,845,291 Koontz Feb. 16, 1932 2,001,983 Spiros May 21, 1935 2,110,868 Coates Mar. 15, 1938 2,182,606 Ziegler Dec. 15, 1939 2,183,060 Blake Dec. 12, 1939 2,194,882 Bamber Mar. 26, 1940 2,251,574 ONeill Aug. 5, 1941 

